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Opportunity: UK-Wide Minibus Driver Training Services

The Salvation Army

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Planning

01 Sep 2026 at 11:38

Market Engagement Notice
Summary of the contracting process

The Salvation Army is planning to procure UK-wide minibus driver training services, covering the United Kingdom, the Isle of Man, Guernsey and Jersey. The service will support approximately 52 minibuses, which operate across diverse services and locations. Training is intended for officers, employees and volunteers who drive these vehicles, with passengers including vulnerable people with different mobility and support needs. The scope is expected to include new-driver theory and practical training, refresher training every two years, accessible-minibus and wheelchair-equipment training, individual and group driver assessments, passenger safety, safeguarding, first aid and emergency procedures. It will also cover certification of competent drivers, reassessment where needed, and a live dashboard showing completed and forthcoming training. This is specialist, vocational and safety training.

This procurement is at the planning stage: The Salvation Army has stated an intention to procure and is undertaking early market engagement rather than inviting tenders. It expects to seek expressions of interest by 30 September 2026, with the engagement scheduled to end on that date. The eventual procurement is described as a tender, but the planned procurement method, contract period, award criteria and contract value have not been settled in this process. Businesses should treat the stated timing as indicative market-engagement planning, not as a tender deadline. The buyer has asked established providers to express interest and review the scope before the requirement reaches the market. The procurement is identified as specialist training services, including vocational and safety training.

The work is likely to suit established training providers able to deliver consistently across multiple UK and island locations, including organisations that can support both individual and group courses. Relevant providers will need appropriately qualified instructors, recognised accreditation and proven experience delivering training across multiple sites. The buyer is looking for capability in minibus driving, passenger safety, safeguarding, first aid, emergency procedures, accessible transport and wheelchair equipment. Providers should be prepared to assess new and existing drivers, certify competence, arrange reassessments and maintain reliable records through a live training dashboard. Robust safeguarding arrangements, valid Enhanced DBS checks for instructors and appropriate insurance are expected requirements. The opportunity is identified as suitable for SMEs and voluntary, community or social enterprises, subject to meeting these national delivery and quality requirements.

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Notice Information

Notice Title

Opportunity: UK-Wide Minibus Driver Training Services

Notice Description

The Salvation Army invites suitably qualified and accredited organisations to tender for the provision of minibus driver training across the UK and Northern Ireland. The Salvation Army operates approximately 52 minibuses, subject to change, which support a diverse range of services and locations. Drivers include officers, employees and volunteers, and passengers may include vulnerable individuals with differing mobility and support needs. The required service will include: * new-driver theory and practical training; * two-yearly refresher training; * accessible-minibus and wheelchair equipment training; * individual and group driver assessments; * passenger safety, safeguarding, first aid and emergency procedures; * certification of competent drivers; * reassessment arrangements where required; and * a live dashboard showing completed and forthcoming training. The successful provider must demonstrate national delivery capacity, recognised accreditation, appropriately qualified instructors, relevant multi-site delivery experience, appropriate insurance, robust safeguarding arrangements and valid Enhanced DBS checks for instructors. Who Should Apply: We invite expressions of interest from established training providers with proven experience.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-b5fd17-747bd7ee-d5ba-460e-9384-3bb080c67b49
Publication Source
Contracts Finder
Latest Notice
https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/b82b1b49-87ca-41e1-9d85-a5714f9d203c
Current Stage
Planning
All Stages
Planning

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
Market Engagement Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Not specified
Procurement Method
Not Specified
Procurement Method Details
Not specified
Tender Suitability
SME, VCSE
Awardee Scale
Not specified

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

80 - Education and training services

CPV Codes

80510000 - Specialist training services

80530000 - Vocational training services

80550000 - Safety training services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
Not specified
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
1 Sep 2026Today
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
30 Sep 20264 weeks to go
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
Not specified - Not specified
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

Tender Status
Planning
Lots Status
Not Specified
Awards Status
Not Specified
Contracts Status
Not Specified

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
The Salvation Army
Contact Name
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Email
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Phone
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →

Buyer Location

Locality
LONDON
Postcode
SE5 8FJ
Postcode Area
South East London
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLI London
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLI4 Inner London - East
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLI44 Lewisham and Southwark
Delivery Location
Not specified
Local Authority
Southwark
Electoral Ward
Champion Hill
Westminster Constituency
Dulwich and West Norwood

Further Information

Notice Documents

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

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The Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS) is a framework designed to increase transparency and access to public procurement data in the public sector. It is widely used by governments and organisations worldwide to report on procurement processes and contracts.

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